Diverse events lighten up ASEAN-Korea summit

First lady Kim Jung-sook buys a bowl of nasi katok, Brunei's delicacy, at the ASEAN-ROK Food Street event in Jeonpo-dong, Busan, Friday. Korea Times photo by Ryu Hyo-jin

By Park Ji-won

BUSAN ― Even though the rain and the chilly weather continued throughout the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit, diverse events were held to in time for the rare international event where visitors enjoyed the exotic foods and cultures of ASEAN member nations and Korea, as well as various new technologies.

Busan citizens visited the ASEAN-ROK Food Street where chefs from 10 countries have been selling their food since Nov. 15 in the central neighborhood of Jeonpo-dong. Visitors could buy foods there and also enjoy various events ranging from small concerts by artists from Busan and ASEAN countries to exhibition programs promoting food and tourism of the 10 Southeast Asian countries and Korea. On Friday, first lady Kim Jung-sook visited the event and took part in a cooking contest.

An unmanned HR-Sherpa security car patrols around BEXCO where the ASEAN-Korea Commemorative Summit is being held, Busan, Monday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Not only can visitors enjoy the exotic foods and cultures, they also can see high-tech devices introduced in the summit.

An unmanned security car called an HR-Sherpa is patrolling around BEXCO, the summit venue, receiving a lot of attention. The vehicle developed by Korean researchers carries out reconnaissance work day and night by using optical and thermal imaging technologies with a rotating 360-degree lens. It also can detect security personnel nearby and follow them autonomously.

Paro, an autonomous robot with artificial intelligence technology, stands at BEXCO in Busan, Sunday, where the ASEAN Korea Commemorative Summit is being held through Wednesday. Yonhap

A dozen autonomous robots called “Paro” with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies wandered here and there to give visitors information about the venue. If a guest touches its screen, it shows maps and information about the summit in various languages. The visitors also can take pictures using the robot and have them sent to their personal devices. It also detects intruders entering the building at night.

Also, security drones fly above BEXCO to monitor the roads and patrol the seaside while carrying out search operations at night using thermal technology.

Meanwhile, with various special exhibitions and shows throughout the summit such as ASEAN Fantasia on Sunday and a welcoming dinner and performances on Monday also taking place, many VIP guests from ASEAN countries expressed surprise, Cheong Wa Dae said, asking for Seoul to share the technologies used in the shows.

“Leaders of ASEAN countries asked President Moon Jae-in to cooperate with them to share Seoul's technologies presented in the shows such as 5G technology,” Yoon Do-han, senior secretary to the President for public communication, said in a message to reporters, Tuesday.

He also added that leaders and their partners were surprised by the shows performed by K-pop star HyunA and motion-capture artificial dancers using 5G motion capture technology and a hologram of a large bronze bell from the country's Silla Dynasty.